Storm breaks over attack on Irwin

[Nutmegger]

SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) -- Comments by academic Germaine Greer on the death of wildlife TV star Steve Irwin have triggered a storm of anger with the Australian author criticized for being "insensitive" and "elitist."

Greer, best known for her feminist book "The Female Eunuch", said Wednesday Irwin was an "embarrassment" and a "self-deluded animal torturer."

Irwin, who gained international fame for his "Crocodile Hunter" TV series, was killed Monday by a stingray barb while filming a wildlife documentary.

Speaking on Australian TV Channel Nine's "A Current Affair" news program Wednesday, Greer described those who mourned Irwin's passing as "idiots" and said possibly millions of Australians were embarrassed by him.

Full article: http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/06/death.irwin.greer/index.html

[Broken_Hero]

1. Damn

Sorry this had to happen...:(

[Syrinx]

2. what a lovely lady

:sarcasm:

[tabatha]

3. a very nice commentary on Irwin

The Thundering Positive Energy of Steve Irwin
http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?article_class=5&no=315972&rel_no=1

Also, some very nice video tributes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0imSwvZ47g&mode=related&search=
apt music from the "Power of One" - "Of Death and Dying"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_vMTzuSBN4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgsE9SQ1iCA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpWpLw2KlHY

[Bark Bark Bark]

4. SFChronicle's Debbie Saunders Doing It Too...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/09/07/EDGK1KT7GT1.DTL

[Syrinx]

5. the local paper carries her column

And she's a lot like Ann Coulter if you strip away a few layers of veneer. I really don't like her.

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. Greer can be nasty, she does some things for publicity, but

she is genuinely intelligent, has been an excellent professor for many years, and is one of the most important feminist writers the world has seen. To compare her to Coulter is like comparing Bill Clinton to George Bush.

Oops - on edit, I see you were probably talking about Saunders, not Greer. Oh well - my comments about Greer may be instructive to people anyway.

[Syrinx]

9. I was speaking of Debra Saunders there. n/t

[OneBlueSky]

6. as with most things, the truth lies somewhere between the extremes . . .

of sainthood and satanhood . . . Irwin undoubtedly did a lot of good, but his methods of interacting with wildlife were sometimes very disturbing . . .

[WilliamPitt]

7. She sounds like a DUer

who posts in GD.

Don't yell at me. It's true.

[Syrinx]

10. Ha!

:hi:

[xchrom]

11. i'm really sorry germaine greer decided to do that.

it really was beneath her.

[JoFerret]

12. Always refreshing

Always refreshing to hear the contrarian viewpoint. Particularly when it comes to turning strangers into idols and the excesses of Grief-by-Proxy.

[bleedingheart]

13. People are entitled to their opinions.

My kids loved Steve Irwin.

I could not watch him...it made me nervous.

Two of my Australian coworkers found him to be dangerous and obnoxious. One fellow in particular told me "I hope a bloody croc bites his arm off one of these days"...they didn't hate him but they thought that some of his antics were over the top.

Irwin even knew that people didn't like him and even parodied his own demise in silly commercials like the Fed Ex one....

Now ...I feel bad for his wife and his kids. Those kids are going to grow up without their dad because of a freak accident. I grew up without a dad (heart attack) and that is really hard. Whether your liked him or not..it is sad.

[Tellurian]

14. Heres what I saw..

Aussie tv ran a short clip of Steve's daughter, Bindi's new show. The little 8 yr. old tyke was (magical/mystical)..I don't know which. Her poise and stage/jungle presence was unbelievable. Her message was clear, concise and convincing.

"We have to take care of the animals; treat them with respect and take care of their habitat."

She was absolutely amazing. Steve, would be proud and thankful, it will be Bindi, with the help of her family and good friends, that will nourish the minds of children on this earth with insights into the importance of being good stewards of the animals living on the planet.

[Nutmegger]

15. Thank you. [nt]